Under the Influence
Under the Influence
Robert H. Frank
Tyler Cowen
Tyler Cowen recommended this book in his blog.
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Under the Influence

Under the Influence: Putting Peer Pressure to Work

Robert H. Frank
By
Robert H. Frank
3.7
142
ratings on Goodreads

In "Under the Influence," Robert H. Frank harnesses his profound insights into human behavior and economic theory to illuminate the powerful role that our social environments play in shaping our actions. With a narrative that is as engaging as it is enlightening, Frank delves into the often-unseen forces that nudge us towards decisions that can either uplift or undermine our collective wellbeing. From the seemingly benign act of choosing a larger car to more consequential behaviors like neglecting green energy, Frank makes it clear: we are products of our surroundings, but crucially, we also have the power to redefine them. Through a series of compelling examples and rigorous analysis, Frank not only diagnoses the problems rooted in our mimicry and compliance but also prescribes a path forward. He argues convincingly that by being more mindful of the social cues we emit and receive, we can foster environments that encourage more responsible and sustainable choices. "Under the Influence" is not merely a call to awareness but a rallying cry for collective action. In a world teetering on the brink of environmental catastrophe, Frank's message is clear: by harnessing the latent power of our social networks, we can steer our communities towards a future where both the planet and its inhabitants thrive.

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Released
2020
28 Jan
Length
311
Pages

1

recommendations

recommendation

Tyler Cowen recommended this book in his blog.
In one experiment, subjects who were asked to imagine having been exposed to a rare fatal disease—there was a 1 in 1,000 chance they had caught it—were willing to pay only $2,000 for the only available dose of the antidote.19 The same subjects said that, under identical conditions, they would have to be paid 250 times as much to induce them to voluntarily expose themselves to the disease if there was no available antidote. This asymmetry is striking, since in both cases, people would be buying a one-in-a-thousand reduction in their likelihood of death.
— Robert H. Frank, Under the Influence

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